Yankees star delivers masterpiece in start reminiscent of 2022 All-Star campaign

Nestor Cortes felt close before to his most recent match against the Guardians.

There were indications — both good and terrible — of the left-hander recovering his All-Star status from 2022.

Eight shutout innings versus the Marlins.

Strikeouts that continued in subsequent appearances, including one against Cleveland on April 14 when he allowed four runs in four innings.

Cortes believed that one or two more appearances would be enough to “turn that corner.”

Because when it happened, outings like Saturday would occur.

Cortes pitched seven shutout innings in the Yankees’ 2-0, 10-inning loss to the Rays at Yankee Stadium, a nine-strikeout performance in which he scattered six hits and did not walk a batter that will only result in a no-decision on his 2024 record.

However, considering Cortes’ injury-plagued journey last year and his inconsistencies to begin this season, his fifth start could serve as a foundation for a key member of the Yankees’ (14-7) rotation.

“Hopefully today, I can continue to do that and go back to my old self like I was in 2022,” Cortes was quoted as saying.

Cortes’ nine strikeouts and 17 swing-and-misses were his most in a single game since Oct. 1, 2022, against the Orioles, when he had 12 and 19.

He couldn’t utilize the pump-fake pitch he debuted against the Guardians because MLB ruled it illegal, a decision that manager Aaron Boone claimed didn’t surprise him, but he relied on four-seamers, cutters, sweepers, and changeups to keep Rays batters off balance.

He once sped up his windup.

Cortes dropped his arm and delivered a two-strike, sidearm sweeper past Isaac Paredes in the fourth inning for his sixth strikeout, concluding a frame in which Tampa Bay did not put the ball in play.

Cortes then utilized consecutive strikeouts to escape a second-and-third jam with one out in the next stanza.

“The fastball was really good,” Cortes remarked. “Very good areas. I felt like I left the dugout a little slowly in the fifth inning. Wasn’t as commanding as I had been during the game.

Then, Cortes claimed, he discovered “another gear.”

Cortes struggled to find that rhythm last season. He had 28 starts and a 2.44 ERA from 2022 to improve upon.

Over time, he evolved into a pitcher with “really, really funky moves on the mound,” Boone said.

Cortes, however, has only made 12 starts this season due to a hamstring strain and a left rotator cuff problem.

The issue of whether Cortes could repeat his career-best season remained unresolved, carrying over into 2024.